China blames India for stone-throwing brawl – China’s latest political and current affairs news

Over the weekend, what appears to be footage of the intense fighting — which included stone throwing and fisticuffs — between Chinese and Indian troops last week was released, prompting a response from the Chinese foreign ministry.

• Here is the footage obtained by Indian outlet the Print, and analysis from Business Insider. Reuters notes that the footage was “originally posted by a retired army officer.”
• The direct response of China’s Foreign Ministry: That after a “normal patrol conducted by the Chinese border troops in the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control,” the “Indian side took some violent actions to collide and scuffle with the Chinese side, which injured the Chinese personnel.” China is “strongly dissatisfied with this and has lodged stern representations with the Indian side through border-related channels.”
• AFP reports that Indian army sources confirmed the authenticity of the tape (if not China’s interpretation of it), and that India’s Home Minister, Rajnath Singh, is taking an optimistic tack on the larger border conflict. “I think a solution will come out soon. China will also take a positive step from its side,” he stated in remarks to the paramilitary Indo-Tibetan Border Police.
• But a “solution,” of course, has different interpretations from each side. AFP notes that while India is content with a simultaneous withdrawal of troops, China has consistently insisted on an Indian retreat before formal negotiations proceed.

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